Nobody But You

Drake sat in his car stuck in miles of traffic along the interstate. He had a long day at work and just wanted to go home and relax. He sighed. It didn't look like he was going anywhere fast anytime soon so he plugged up his phone to the audio system in his car. He sifted through his playlists and picked one, letting the music blare through the speakers. A sense of calm and relaxation came over him immediately. He continued trudging along the highway, when he spotted the source of the problem. An accident in the middle of the highway. There were squad cars and ambulances surrounding the crash site as well as law enforcement directing the few lanes of traffic away from the accident. Things of this nature always humbled him. He thanked god that it wasn't he who was in that predicament but he also felt bad for the people who were. Drake turned on his signal to change lanes when his phone started ringing. He looked to see who was calling and smiled immediately. He wasted no time answering it.

"What's up shorty?" He heard a slight giggle then her voice.

"Don't get slapped!" she warned.

"My bad you know I couldn't help it. What's up though? I haven't seen you in awhile!" Nicki rolled her eyes. She didn't know why he was acting like they didn't text each other every now and again because they both lead busy lives. 

"Calm down playboy. I've been working hard and you know this already!" She replied. 

"I see that Ms. I own the most popular salon franchise in LA! You know I saw an article about you in the newspaper the other day. I have to admit, you doing your thing but I always knew you had it in you." He replied. Drake was happy that she'd accomplished what she'd set out to do. He knew it didn't come easy for her but she had made it. 

"Thank you. That means a lot."

There was an awkward silence between the two. Neither of them knew what else to say to the other. Drake had pulled up to his house minutes later with Nicki still on the phone. He shut off the car and sat stroking his chin. He knew his wife was waiting on him in the house but he didn't care. Drake had missed his best friend. When they were younger he and Nicki would hang out all the time. Now that she had a business to run and was getting more popular they rarely even talked nowadays.

"What are you doing?" She asked fiddling with the picture of them on her desk. She stared at it sighing. It was a photo that they took when she first got her business license and he took her out to celebrate at the beach. He was kissing her cheek as she smiled into the camera. She hadn't even noticed that a tear rolled down her face while she reminisced at the memory of a happy time.

"I'm sitting in my car in the front of my house"

Nicki snapped out of her thoughts quickly. "Oh," she said realizing that someone other than her was probably thinking about him. "Well I won't keep you any longer. I know your girlfriend is waiting on you." The day that he had told her about Bernice was the day everything changed between them.

"No it's f-" She had cut him off by hanging up. Drake looked at the phone and frowned. She never did that before. He kept calling her back but she wouldn't answer. He stayed put until it got dark outside thinking how much he missed being around her.

2 weeks later

It was almost midnight when Nicki received a call from Drake saying that he needed a place to crash for the night because him and his girl got into it and for some reason he refused to book a hotel room. This was the norm. Every time he needed something she would be the one to help him out and in return he would disappear on her until he needed something else. Nicki sighed and texted him back that he could sleep at her place.

Drake pulled up an hour later, in his Bugatti. He grabbed the duffel bag he packed and walked up the steps. This was the first time he had been to her new place and he had to admit it was huge and beautiful. She always had talked about relocating to Malibu since they were teenagers. He rang the doorbell and waited for her to answer. Nicki looked at the security cam and saw that it was him so she hastily made her way downstairs and unlocked the door. He stood there with a smirk plastered on his face and she rolled her eyes and walked away, leaving him to close the door behind him.

"No hi, how you doing?" he asked hurt.

"You're pathetic, you know that?" She eyed him. She had to admit seeing him always made her smile. He was the same boy who used to make her forget about everything that was wrong in her life. He had helped her through so many situations and she did the same for him. No matter what, they always had each other's back and that would never change.

"Damn, who pissed in your drink?" he said looking at the glass in her hand. "What you drinking anyway?" he asked.

"Moscato. You should already know that since that's all I ever drink."

"True. I don't even know why I asked." Drake replied while rubbing his hand over his head, something she knew he did when he was nervous. "Can I get a hug or something?" He asked shyly. When it came to her, everything made him nervous. Nicki wasted no time walking into his arms. The scent of Burberry filled her nostrils. He hugged her tight not wanting to let go as he inhaled her scent. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. No matter how bad he got on her nerves, she still had major love for him. Drake kissed her cheek before letting her go. He noticed all the candles lit around her living room. It provided a calm and relaxing vibe to the house. He knew she loved scented candles. Drake unzipped his duffel and pulled out a vanilla scented Yanke Candle and handed it to her. "Here. You can add this to your collection. I know how much you love them." He smiled which made her smile in return.

"Thank you. I have just the place for it too." she informed heading to her kitchen. She placed it on the counter and lit it. "Remember when we were little and you used to light a candle for me when I would sleep over at your house because I would complain about the dark?" Drake walked up to her and grabbed her by the waist.

"Yeah, that was funny because you would pout all night if I didn't." He nuzzled his face into her neck. She rubbed the back of his hand soothingly. "You know what memory I can't get out my head?" He asked. Nicki turned around and looked at him.

"What?" She felt his body rub against hers which instantly ignited flames within her. Drake leaned her back on the counter behind her. He watched the way she stared at him. 

"Something happened in High School with this girl I was feeling but she told me it was just a mistake." He replied still looking into her hooded eyes.

"That's because it was." She snapped turning around, realizing that he was talking about her. 

"Are you sure? I mean it didn't seem like one since she told me she loved me after the night we had." Nicki huffed. She didn't want to talk about this right now.

"I'm going to finish some work."  She turned and left, not wanting to finish the conversation that they were currently having. Anger and frustration was what she was feeling. The frustration was from allowing him to get under her skin, again, knowing that he would never choose her. Anger was from him thinking it was okay to use her whenever he needed something. Drake ran behind her, catching her off guard when he pulled her to him forcefully. He untied her robe letting it fall to the floor as he kissed up her neck.

"Drake stop. Don't do this please" she pleaded with tears in her eyes. He ignored her and scooped her up in his arms. He put her down and backed away catching his breath. It was always something that drew him to her. 

The two settled on the couch in the living room. Nicki laid her head in his lap with her feet stretched. She remembered all the times she would end up at his place when she didn't want to be home. They were inseparable as kids growing up in LA. Drake ran his fingers along her arm with something completely different on his mind. He sat there thinking about what just happened between them. He honestly didn't care about his wife at the moment. In his mind, she could never be more important than his friendship with Nicki. He cherished Nicki so much because she knew him like the back of her hand. 

Drake softly caressed her stomach while snuggling up to her warm body. He inhaled her scent before giving her a light peck on her forehead. Nicki immediately tensed up when he lifted the shirt she had on and rest his hand on her bare stomach. She grabbed his hand and placed it around her. 

"Don't go there." She reprimanded. "You know how I feel about that." Drake frowned. He still couldn't believe that after all these years she still wasn't comfortable with him caressing her stomach. 

"You still think about it?" He asked. She looked up into his eyes. 

"Everyday." 

"Really?" She just shook her head and looked down.

"I'm sorry" was all he said pulling her closer. She turned to face him.

"Don't be. It was nothing that we could've controlled." Nicki assured. They didn't like talking about the child that they miscarried a few years ago. It still was a touchy subject for the both of them.

"You're so strong. Even when I know that it affects you." Drake held onto her waist while caressing the soft skin of her lower back. He nuzzled her neck. They laid there for a few before Nicki remembered that she had something to finish doing. She got up and stretched while yawning.

"You can sleep in one of the guest rooms down the hall. I have some quick emails to send so make yourself comfortable, okay?" Drake nodded and went to the guest bedroom while Nicki went into her office. It was after 1 am and she had a long day today filled with important meetings and other stuff pertaining to her salon. Nicki quickly responded to all her emails before ordering more supplies for her business. She was just sending the order in when Drake knocked on the door startling her in the process. She clutched her chest taking a deep breath. She had almost forgot that he was even here. She turned off her computer before standing up and walking towards the door. She pulled it open to see him standing there in a tank top and his boxers.

"Hey can I use your charger? I forgot to pack mines."

"Sure. I have a new one in here somewhere. I just have to figure out where I put it." She walked over to her desk and searched every drawer. Drake wasn't even paying attention to what she was rambling about because he was so transfixed on her ass. She had on a white silk robe that made her look like angel in it. When he didn't reply to her question, she turned around saw him staring at her in a complete daze. 

"Hello. Earth to Aubrey!" She waved her hand at him trying to get his attention. 

He shook his head clearing his mind of all the dirty thoughts of her that were running through it. "I'm sorry you caught me in a moment." He said taking the charger out of her hand. Nicki looked at him confused. She didn't understand why he was playing with her like this. He had a girl and that should be the only person that he should be concerned about. 

"Whatever that moment was, you need to rid it out of your mind cause it's not even like that anymore between us."

"Says the woman who won't date because she can never be intimate with anyone other than her first love." He smirked. 

"Take that back, you jerk!" She yelled pointing a finger in his face. 

"Tell me why did you hung up on me two weeks ago? Is it because you knew that I was going home to another woman? Maybe it was because you wanted me to come to you." Nicki became infuriated at the fact that he knew of her feelings for him but he chooses to throw it in her face. For years all she's ever known was him so it was hard to move on when she knew that anyone who she dated would always come second to him. It was something that she hated to admit. Tears streamed down her face. She didn't care if he saw or not. The anger she felt towards him in that moment was real. She knew that she could never hate him but he wasn't her favorite person right now.

Nicki bumped him as she stormed out of the office heading for the stairs to retreat to her bedroom. Nothing about what he said was a lie and she knew it, she just didn't like the hold he had on her heart. The relationship between them was toxic and she knew it but it still didn't make her love him any less. Minutes later, Drake came inside to make sure that she was ok. She heard him enter but didn't even move an inch. Nicki was too busy wiping all her tears away. She felt him sit on her bed and she could feel his eyes on her as she had her back to him.

"I'm sorry Onika." He didn't mean to hurt her feelings or make her cry. Sometimes he was just a little too honest for his own good. His mouth always got him into trouble even as a kid. He hung his head as he waited for her to say something...anything.

"You haven't called me that since we were kids." It came out as a whisper. She completely dodged his apology which he knew she would. "Back then everything was perfect between us. I don't know what happened." She always wondered how they got to this point. Drake didn't even know the answer himself. He had always loved her but felt like he was never enough. She deserved better than him and it hurt to realize that. He wished they hadn't got caught up so fast.

"Onika look at me." He demanded. She contemplated before doing as he asked. Her cheeks were wet with tears but somehow she still beautiful in the midst of her distress. His hand gently wiped them away as she stared at the person who caused them. "You're so amazing. Don't blame yourself for what happened with us. It was my fault." He smiled down at her hoping that it would put a smile on her face too but it didn't. She just stared at him. His hazel eyes shinning in the dark room. She always loved staring into his eyes; they would always comfort her when she needed it. "I want you to find someone better than me to love and treat you how you deserve." She shook her head no.

"I don't want nobody but you." He sighed. This was exactly what he thought she would say. Drake wanted to hold her and make endless love to her but that wouldn't help the situation at all. He started to get up from the bed but she grabbed his hand pulling him back down and straddling him. "Tell me you don't love me." She cried while punching his chest. "Tell me that you don't think about me all the time." She punched him again. "Tell me that you don't want to make love to me right now!" She screamed while punching him repeatedly as tears continued to flow freely down her face dropping onto his chest. Drake grabbed a hold of her hands to stop her from hitting him.

"You know I can't say any of that!"

"Then stop pretending like you don't care!" Nicki screamed at him. She hated when he did that. She pulled at the bun from atop her head making her hair fall freely about her shoulders before grinding on him making him become hard. She opened her robe revealing that she had only a blue thong on. Not just any thong, a thong he bought her that was his favorite color from years ago. 

"Dammit Onika!" He had to admit, every time she wore it was better than the last. Nicki tossed her robe to the floor before Drake flipped her over so that now she was pinned by her arms beneath him. A moan escaped her lips and he hadn't even touched her. "I swear you make a nigga wanna fuck the shit out of you!"

"Then why don't you?"

"Because I'm married Onika!" He admitted. Drake didn't know how to tell her. He was afraid of her reaction but he knew that he would have to eventually. Nicki scrunched up her face confused.

"Come again?"

"I did know how to tell you. Me and Bernice have been married for awhile now. Two years to be exact. Where in a rough space in our relationship right now and she's pregnant with my child which is due next month. I only came over here because she said she needed to be alone for awhile." She attempted to move but he held her in place staring at her until she had no fight left within her. He knew that if he let go she would run from him an they needed this talk. Nicki once again let her tears go. "I'm really sorry. I feel like I keep delivering bad news to you. I really meant it when I said I want you to find love and happiness."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore. Can you please let me go. I have work in the morning."

"Can we finish this conversation like adults tomorrow or are we going to run away from them."

"We can finish it but right now I just want to be left alone." He released her hands and got up leaving out the room. As soon as he closed her door, he could hear her cries and sighed knowing none of them would really get any rest tonight. 

One and a half years later

After they had talked, Nicki has been avoiding Drake completely. She blocked his number so that he wouldn't call and even when he tried to show up at the opening of her second salon, she had him removed from the premises. She wanted to focus on the present and not the past anymore. It hurt her to cut her best-friend off like that but she felt like he had done the same thing to her years ago but she didn't want to accept it. 

Drake on the other hand understood that they needed to just distance themselves from each other. He focused on rebuilding his relationship with Bernice but she decided it was time to part shortly after their son was born. Isaac was everything to Drake now. When they got divorced, the judge ordered shared custody of their son which he was happy about. Things pretty much went back to normal and he enjoyed being single again.

Tonight him and his crew was going out to have some fun after a long week. They decided to hit up a club in downtown L.A. When they go there, a section was already made for them. Throughout the night the bottles kept flowing and the even invited some women to join them. Drake sat in the cut getting a lap dance from a random girl while smoking hookah. The smoke filled the space making it cloudy and hard to see anything. He heard a voice giggle across from him and perked up almost knocking the girl out the way. She rolled her eyes and left him there. Drake got up looking around the club.

"Bruh you straight?" Niko asked. "Who you looking for?"

"I swear I just heard her laugh." Niko did even need to ask who he was referring to because he already knew.

"You trippin'. Why would Nicki be here? She don't even like clubs." He reminded.

"I know but I know I heard her. I'll be right back." Drake walked away and Niko shook his head. Drake walked around looking in every small corner. He didn't care how he looked he missed her terribly. He heard the laugh again and whipped his head around to see her sitting in the corner with a random guy. She had a drink in her hand and she looked drunk. He made his way over to her a took it out of her hand. He sniffed it to find out that it was rum an vodka mixed together.

"Onika what the fuck is this?" She turned to look at him and frowned. Before she could say anything her date spoke up.

"Don't fuckin' talk to her like that!"

"And who the hell are you? Niggas like you only want one thing. Too bad you ain't getting it from her!" Drake looked at her wearing a skin tight dress which was barely covering anything. "Come let me take you home." he offered grabbed her hand but she snapped.

"Take your hands off me Aubrey!" She attempted to stand up but lost her balance. Drake caught her just in time. She pushed him away and grabbed the guy she came with hand. Evan was a business man who she met a few months ago. They weren't in a relationship yet but she liked him and he loved her. Drake didn't want any conflict between them so he left her alone. Evan picked her up in his arms making sure she wasn't exposed.

"You better take care of her." He yelled. For some reason he knew that all hope was lost for them to ever be together again and he was right because Nicki had finally had enough of him and found someone new. He just hoped that she knew what she was doing.

"I will." 

I could never love nobody but you.

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